NBC San Diego seems to have had trouble getting this one... I'm not sure a bottle of expired ether counts as an "explosive device," and ether itself definitely isn't shock sensitive!

Sincerely,

Jack Reidy (he/him)
Research Safety Specialist, Assistant Chemical Hygiene Officer
Environmental Health & Safety
Stanford University
484 Oak Road, Stanford, CA, 94305
Tel: (650) 497-7614

I acknowledge that the land on which I live and work is the ancestral and unceded land of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe. As an uninvited guest on these lands, I am a beneficiary of the ongoing displacement of the Ohlone people. I pay my respects to the Native peoples, past and present.



-----Original Message-----
From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Ralph Stuart
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2022 3:14 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Chemical Safety headlines (16 articles)

Chemical Safety Headlines From Google
Friday, September 30, 2022 at 6:13:43 AM

   A service of the ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety
   Connecting Chemistry and Safety at http://www.dchas.org
   All article summaries and tags are archived at http://pinboard.in/u:dchas

Table of Contents (16 articles)

UNSPECIFIED HAZARD PROMPTS EVACUATION OF UCLA MOLECULAR SCIENCE BUILDING
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical

DOZENS PASS OUT AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK AT INDIA MEAT FACTORY
Tags: India, industrial, release, injury, ammonia

W.A. PARISH PLANT LEAK: HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL WHILE WORKING AT RICHMOND PLANT
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, injury, ammonia, cleaners

PFAS FIREFIGHTING FOAM REMOVED FROM JOHNSON COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Tags: us_IN, industrial, discovery, environmental, toxics, waste

LABS’ CARBON FOOTPRINT UNDER SCRUTINY AS TOOL CALCULATES IMPACT OF BUILDINGS AND SCIENTISTS
Tags: France, laboratory, discovery, environmental, carbon_dioxide

THREAT ELIMINATED AFTER POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOUND IN UC SAN DIEGO LAB – NBC 7 SAN DIEGO
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, response, diethyl_ether

BP LAYOFFS AT OHIO REFINERY AFTER FIRE INDICATE PROLONGED SHUTDOWN
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, hydrogen_sulfide, sulfur_dioxide

HOW FIREFIGHTERS’ LIFE-SAVING WORK PUTS THEM AT A HIGHER RISK OF CANCER
Tags: us_KS, industrial, discovery, environmental, toxics

LARGE WAREHOUSE FIRE IN NORTH ST. LOUIS
Tags: us_MO, industrial, fire, response, cleaners

PCA FINED $2.5 MILLION IN FATAL 2017 EXPLOSION AT DERIDDER MILL
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical

CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD DEPLOYS TO BP-HUSKY TOLEDO REFINERY
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, hydrogen_sulfide, petroleum, sulfur_dioxide

BROKEN MERCURY THERMOMETER AT STILLWATER ROAD CONDOS IN DEERFIELD
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, mercury

STEAM EXPLOSION AT PEABODY MUSEUM TRACED TO PIPE LEAK
Tags: us_CT, laboratory, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

AN E-BIKE CAUGHT FIRE IN A BALTIMORE APARTMENT GARAGE TUESDAY. HERE’S HOW TO SAFELY STORE AND CHARGE THEM. – BALTIMORE SUN
Tags: us_MD, public, fire, response, batteries

DIESEL SPILL PROMPTS ROAD CLOSURES ON SAN DARIO AVENUE
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

UP TO 23 PEOPLE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER ACID LEAK AT ST. CATHARINES AUTO PLANT
Tags: Canada, industrial, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid


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UNSPECIFIED HAZARD PROMPTS EVACUATION OF UCLA MOLECULAR SCIENCE BUILDING https://kfiam640.iheart.com/featured/la-local-news/content/2022-09-29-unspecified-hazard-prompts-evacuation-of-ucla-molecular-science-building/
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, release, response, unknown_chemical

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - An unspecified "environmental hazard" prompted an evacuation of UCLA's Molecular Sciences Building Thursday, though no injuries were reported.

Campus police and fire department units responded to the building just after noon on reports of the hazard and evacuated the building out of an abundance of caution, according to a UCLA campus alert.

Staff and students were advised by the university to avoid the building, but the rest of the campus remained open. Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad and hazmat units, in addition to Los Angeles Fire Department personnel, were assisting campus authorities with the hazmat response.

Charles E. Young Drive South was closed between Tiverton and Manning drives for an unknown duration as authorities investigated the hazard.

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DOZENS PASS OUT AFTER CHEMICAL LEAK AT INDIA MEAT FACTORY https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2022/09/835620/dozens-pass-out-after-chemical-leak-india-meat-factory
Tags: India, industrial, release, injury, ammonia

NEW DELHI: Dozens of workers fell unconscious and were hospitalised on Thursday after a chemical leak at an Indian meat processing plant, police said, the second such incident in two days.

Police said the employees complained of breathing problems and passed out after a pipe carrying ammonia burst and spewed noxious fumes into the factory in the northern city of Aligarh.

"At least 55 workers, mostly women, were rushed to the hospital after the leak," a local police official told AFP. "Most of the workers were unconscious."

Emergency personnel rushed to the factory and were working to stop the toxic gas from spreading.

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W.A. PARISH PLANT LEAK: HUNDREDS OF EMPLOYEES EXPOSED TO CHEMICAL WHILE WORKING AT RICHMOND PLANT https://abc13.com/chemical-leak-wa-parish-plant-richmond-employees-exposed-to/12280469/
Tags: us_TX, industrial, release, injury, ammonia, cleaners

RICHMOND, Texas (KTRK) -- Hundreds of employees were evaluated after they were exposed to a chemical while working at a plant in Richmond.

On Thursday, the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal's Office received a call at about 5:49 p.m. regarding the exposure at the W.A. Parish Plant off of Smithers Lake Road.

About 106 patients were found to have had some level of exposure to a chemical that caused them to have scratchy throats and burning of the eyes, according to Fort Bend County Judge KP George.

Those exposed were evaluated, and six patients were taken to nearby hospitals with the most severe symptoms of dizziness and difficulty breathing. All personnel and patients have been accounted for and released, George said.


Officials said the employees were doing some type of work at the facility when the leak happened.

George shared that there were concerns the employees could've been exposed to ammonia, but an investigation found the chemical was a biodegradable cleaner and degreaser that was overly applied.

Officials said there is no threat to surrounding areas around the plant.

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PFAS FIREFIGHTING FOAM REMOVED FROM JOHNSON COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENTS https://dailyjournal.net/2022/09/29/pfas-chemicals-removed-from-johnson-county-fire-departments/
Tags: us_IN, industrial, discovery, environmental, toxics, waste

Local fire departments are taking part in an initiative to get rid of firefighting foam containing toxic chemicals.

Recent research shows that one of the tools firefighters used for extinguishing blazes for years is also a main source of cancer-causing chemicals. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, is a large group of toxic chemicals used in thousands of consumer products — including foams used to fight fires.

The Indiana Class B PFAS Foam Collection Initiative is looking to tackle this problem head-on. With a focus on protecting firefighter safety, state officials will remove and properly dispose of PFAS material from any agency that requests it, for free. The program is a collaboration between the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, or IDHS, and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management, or IDEM.

“The new collection and disposal program allows Indiana to protect Hoosier firefighters and the environment. Minimizing exposure to Class B firefighting foam will have a big impact on the health of firefighters across Indiana,” IDHS officials say.

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LABS’ CARBON FOOTPRINT UNDER SCRUTINY AS TOOL CALCULATES IMPACT OF BUILDINGS AND SCIENTISTS https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/labs-carbon-footprint-under-scrutiny-as-tool-calculates-impact-of-buildings-and-scientists/4016310.article
Tags: France, laboratory, discovery, environmental, carbon_dioxide

A team of researchers and engineers in France has developed a tool to allow labs to work out their carbon footprint. The open source GES 1point5 enables labs to calculate the carbon dioxide emissions from heating, electricity and refrigeration; vehicles; professional travel for field work or conferences; commuting, as well as the purchase of digital devices. This includes the manufacturing of digital devices but doesn’t yet cover emissions from digital devices outside the laboratory, such as cloud servers.

The calculations can be made for a lab as a whole and individual researchers, with the data presented according to internationally recognised standards. Over 500 labs in France, covering thousands of researchers, have used the tool, which is being continually updated based on their feedback. As an individual scientist or laboratory might not have any sway over, for example, the heating source of a building, the ever-expanding database is being used to try to influence decisions at national institutions. The average carbon footprint of a French lab was 479 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per anum, while the figure for an average lab member came in at 3.6.

‘Data is one of the biggest achievements so far. The database is packed with information to understand what’s going on, and how we can decrease our footprint based on facts, not based on opinions,’ says Tamara Ben Ari, a researcher at the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.

In its next iterations the team want to tackle emissions from the use of shared infrastructure such as particle accelerators, or supercomputers. ‘We want to have the order of magnitude of the contribution of research infrastructure to the overall carbon footprint of research but also so that we can make choices,’ adds Ben Ari. But ‘calculating the [emissions] contribution of one hour of use of photon microscopy is a huge task’. The project also aims to calculate the emissions of other goods and services such as chemical solvents used in labs. This is complicated by the lack of information on their manufacturing and supply chains, so the group is exploring estimating the carbon content of an item based on its price.

---------------------------------------------

THREAT ELIMINATED AFTER POTENTIALLY EXPLOSIVE DEVICE FOUND IN UC SAN DIEGO LAB – NBC 7 SAN DIEGO https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/bomb-squads-investigating-potentially-explosive-substance-found-in-uc-san-diego-lab/3058811/
Tags: us_CA, laboratory, discovery, response, diethyl_ether

A bottle possibly containing an explosive substance found in a lab at UC San Diego prompted a hazmat and bomb squad response Wednesday night before it was destroyed by investigators.

The one-liter bottle was discovered in a lab in Pacific Hall, according to UCSD spokesperson Leslie Sepuka. The building was evacuated and the university's Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) staff requested assistance from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

SDFD Battalion Chief Erik Windsor said crews were told the substance was between 10 and 20 mL of diethyl ether, which is highly volatile and "shock sensitive," meaning it could trigger an explosion when agitated.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department hazmat team, and bomb squads for the FBI and San Diego County Sheriff's Department worked together to remove the bottle from the lab. Shortly before 11 p.m., bomb squad crews blew up the bottle in a safe container.

---------------------------------------------

BP LAYOFFS AT OHIO REFINERY AFTER FIRE INDICATE PROLONGED SHUTDOWN https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/bp-lays-off-most-contractors-ohio-refinery-after-explosion-sources-2022-09-28/
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, hydrogen_sulfide, sulfur_dioxide

Sept 28 (Reuters) - BP Plc laid off most contractors at the approximately 160,000 barrel-per-day Toledo, Ohio, refinery it owns with Cenovus Energy Inc (CVE.TO), according to sources familiar with the matter on Wednesday, indicating that the plant will experience a prolonged shutdown following last week's explosion and fire.

The explosion killed two United Steelworkers members, identified as brothers Max and Ben Morrissey.

The more than 100-year-old refinery has been offline since the middle of last week following the explosion and could be shut for several months.

At least one contracting company is on site assessing the damage. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is also investigating the incident, which it said additionally caused the release of sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and significant property damage.

Cenovus has referred comment to BP, which has declined to comment further.

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HOW FIREFIGHTERS’ LIFE-SAVING WORK PUTS THEM AT A HIGHER RISK OF CANCER https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/how-firefighters-life-saving-work-puts-them-at-a-higher-risk-of-cancer
Tags: us_KS, industrial, discovery, environmental, toxics

The life expectancy for firefighters is ten years less than the average person and it’s not just the fires themselves that present dangers. Firefighters are frequently exposed to toxic chemicals, and according to recent research, even their protective gear may carry health risks. Stephanie Sy looked into so-called “forever chemicals” and their possible effects on these essential workers.

---------------------------------------------

LARGE WAREHOUSE FIRE IN NORTH ST. LOUIS
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/warehouse-fire-north-st-louis/63-efe4aad1-9b05-42db-9a79-7b6be52fecb6
Tags: us_MO, industrial, fire, response, cleaners

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Fire Department is responding to the 400 block of East DeSoto for a fire in a large manufacturing warehouse.
The fire occurred at TransChemical, a company that works with consumer chemicals and ingredients used in food, drinks cosmetics and manufacturing.
In a press release, the company stated the fire began around 1:30 p.m. at the Transchemical Warehouse. The fire occurred in a section of the facility where they store and package different products.
TransChemical said in the press release that the fire did burn consumer chemicals that are generally used as cleaning agents for mechanical parts. They are not toxic, according to the company, and the smoke and fumes should not have any health effects to the community.
The fire was deemed a second-alarm fire and is almost out, according to Chief Jenkerson.
There were nine workers in the building at the time of the fire, all are accounted for and there are no reports of any injuries.

---------------------------------------------

PCA FINED $2.5 MILLION IN FATAL 2017 EXPLOSION AT DERIDDER MILL https://www.kplctv.com/2022/09/28/pca-fined-25-million-fatal-2017-explosion-deridder-mill/
Tags: us_LA, industrial, follow-up, death, unknown_chemical

DeRidder, LA (KPLC) - Packaging Corporation of America is being fined $2.5 million in connection with a 2017 explosion at its containerboard production mill in DeRidder.

The Department of Justice says PCA violated the Clean Air Act’s General Duty Clause and Risk Management Program Regulations.

Three workers were killed and seven injured in the explosion, which launched a 100,000-gallon storage tank into the air and over a six-story building. The tank landed 400 feet away on mill equipment.

The United States and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality outlined nine violations of the Clean Air Act in a complaint filed with the settlement.

“Sadly, it took an explosion and the loss of lives to highlight PCA’s failure to adhere to some of these guidelines,” said Brandon Brown, U.S. attorney with the Western District of Louisiana.

“PCA violated the Clean Air Act and accompanying regulations at its DeRidder mill, resulting in an explosion that caused the senseless deaths of three workers, while placing other workers and the surrounding community in danger,” said Todd Kim, assistant attorney general with the Justice Department’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division.

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CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD DEPLOYS TO BP-HUSKY TOLEDO REFINERY
https://cen.acs.org/safety/industrial-safety/Chemical-Safety-Board-deploys-BP/100/i35
Tags: us_OH, industrial, follow-up, death, hydrogen_sulfide, petroleum, sulfur_dioxide

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has deployed its investigators to the BP-Husky Toledo Refinery in Oregon, Ohio, where a Sept. 20 explosion and fire resulted in worker fatalities.
The fire raged for 4 hours and two badly burned workers died. The incident also released sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide and caused significant property damage.
The investigation of the incident will be the first that the CSB has initiated in 14 months.
The refinery employs 840 people and processes up to 160,000 barrels of crude oil daily. The 100-year-old facility had recently completed a major overhaul of its isocracker unit, the company notes. The refinery was shut down as of C&amp;EN’s deadline.
Neither the company nor the United Steelworkers, which represents the refinery workers, would comment on the accident.
The refinery incident will join several others investigated by the CSB involving facilities owned by BP and Husky.

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BROKEN MERCURY THERMOMETER AT STILLWATER ROAD CONDOS IN DEERFIELD https://www.wwlp.com/news/massachusetts/state-urges-residents-to-replace-mercury-thermometers-after-spill-in-deerfield/
Tags: us_MA, public, release, response, mercury

DEERFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Massachusetts Hazmat team were called to Deerfield after a report of a broken mercury thermometer on Tuesday.

Greenfield prepared for fall tourism season State Fire Marshal’s Office Spokesperson Jake Wark told 22News mercury is highly toxic to people and wildlife, so even a small spill requires specialized personnel and equipment. If you have a mercury thermometer, you are being asked to dispose of it properly by calling 866-9MERCURY (866-963-7287). They haven’t been allowed to be sold in Massachusetts for about 20 years.

Mercury is also found in fluorescent light bulbs, thermostats, button batteries, certain cleaners and more.

What to do if you have a Mercury Spill at Home

Call 9-1-1.
Don’t attempt to clean up the spill.
Do not vacuum!
Open windows.
Don’t touch any mercury with bare skin, get on clothing or step in it (you’ll drag it around).
Keep pets and children away.
The Hazmat team is called to mercury spills several times a year, this is the second one this week.

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STEAM EXPLOSION AT PEABODY MUSEUM TRACED TO PIPE LEAK https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2022/09/28/steam-explosion-at-peabody-museum-traced-to-pipe-leak/
Tags: us_CT, laboratory, explosion, response, unknown_chemical

A loud bang, rotten egg smell and clouds of steam that erupted from the Peabody Museum early Tuesday morning have been traced by fire officials to a pipe leak.

Yale Police received a fire alarm report from the Kline Geology Laboratory, just behind the museum, at 210 Whitney Avenue around 2:15 a.m. Steam was emanating from the area of the museum that is currently under construction.

“When officers arrived they heard a loud sound and observed a large amount of steam exiting the building in the construction area,” Yale Police Department Chief Anthony Campbell told the News.

Peabody is currently under a four-year renovation program, according to renovation manager Justin Pezzolesi. Pezzolesi did not respond to the News at time of publication.

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AN E-BIKE CAUGHT FIRE IN A BALTIMORE APARTMENT GARAGE TUESDAY. HERE’S HOW TO SAFELY STORE AND CHARGE THEM. – BALTIMORE SUN https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-e-bikes-electric-fire-garage-20220927-uykdroqa55evjabsbtfzqobs6m-story.html
Tags: us_MD, public, fire, response, batteries

Firefighters on Tuesday morning extinguished an electric bicycle fire in the garage of an apartment building in Federal Hill.

Engines responded about 6:25 a.m. to the 1100 block of Light Street for a report of an e-bike with its motor on fire, said Baltimore City Fire Department spokesperson Blair Adams.

Crews extinguished the fire in minutes.

“While this incident was placed under control in such a short time,” Adams said. “Electric bikes have lithium ion batteries, and they must be stored and charged properly at all times.”

People should adhere the manufacturer’s instructions and recommendations on how to properly store the e-bikes, she said.

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DIESEL SPILL PROMPTS ROAD CLOSURES ON SAN DARIO AVENUE https://www.kgns.tv/2022/09/27/diesel-spill-prompts-road-closures-san-dario-avenue/
Tags: us_TX, transportation, release, response, unknown_chemical

LAREDO, TX (KGNS) -A chemical spill on the streets is causing closures in central Laredo.

According to Laredo Police, a spill on the roadways has prompted the closure of San Dario Avenue and Baltimore Street.

Authorities say they have closed off the middle and inner lane near San Dario.

The spill is roughly two blocks.

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UP TO 23 PEOPLE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER ACID LEAK AT ST. CATHARINES AUTO PLANT https://globalnews.ca/news/9159039/hazadarous-materials-incident-niagara-health/
Tags: Canada, industrial, release, injury, hydrochloric_acid

Up to 23 people were taken to hospital after an acid leak at an automotive plant in St. Catharines on Tuesday, though all were expected to be discharged before the end of the day.


St. Catharines Fire Chief Dave Upper said the incident occurred at THK Rhythm Automotive, which is a manufacturing facility located on Louth Street, south of Fourth Avenue.

“Shortly after 9:00 this morning, a contractor was working at THK Rhythm Automotive,” Upper told Global News Radio AM 900 CHML.

“During their work, they accidentally bumped a valve which opened up and released approximately five litres of hydrochloric acid. That acid in liquid form transformed to a vapour cloud.”

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